BackgroundFor centuries, sunlight has been used for therapeutic purposes. Parents still sun their infants to treat neonatal jaundice, nappy rash or mostly to supply vitamin D for bone development as a consequence of health beliefs. In this study we aimed to assess knowledge and behaviour of parents about benefits of sunlight and sun protection.MethodsIn this study, parents attending to governmental primary healthcare units for their children's routine vaccinations, upon their informed consent, were consecutively enrolled during one month. Data were collected by a semi-structured questionnaire.ResultsThe mean age of 118 enrolled parents and their babies were 27.9 ± 6.5 years and 8.3 ± 5.8 months, respectively. Most of the participants were mothers (93.2%), housewives (81.4%) with an educational level of ≥6 years (71.2%). Sunlight was considered beneficial for bone development (86.4%), diaper rash (5.9%) and neonatal jaundice (12.7%). In case of neonatal jaundice 72.0% of the participants reported that they would consult a physician. Most of the participants (82.2%) were sunning their babies outdoors. Nearly half (49.7%) of them got this information from medical staff. Fifty two percent of the parents were sunning their babies before 10–11 a.m. and/or after 3 p.m. Only 13.6% of parents reported using sunscreen for their babies, and the majority of them were using sun protecting factor ≥ 15. One forth of the sunscreen users was using sunscreen according to their physicians' advice.ConclusionMost of the participants were aware of the benefits of sunlight; especially for bone development. However they were displaying inappropriate behaviour while sunning their babies for health reasons. More education should be given to parents about the danger of sunlight at primary health care units while advising to sun their babies, if any.

Introduction:Hypertension is the most preventable death reason within risky factors in the world. We can avoid hypertension in a way of gaining necessary information level in as much as early years of life and adapting our life styles according to these knowledge we have.Objective: It is purposed to access preclinical medical students' hypertension knowledge level and to investigate the effect of two types of education methods over their information level. Method:Our study is conducted as randomized controlled trial. Investigation universe is Acibadem University preclinical medical students (N=230) while, research sample size was (N=132) determined according to stratified sampling method in which participants were chosen randomly from class name lists proportional to class student quantities. Participants were separated randomly into 2 groups for control and intervention with the rate of 1:1. Participants filled questionnaires and solved the knowledge test before education, just after the knowledge test leaflets, which include information related to hypertension, were given to control group participants and they were asked for reading them within a 10 minute period. Information written in leaflets was explained intervention group participants personally by the chosen researcher. After education, the same knowledge level test was applied again to the participants. It was also analysed whether there is a significant statistical difference between pre and post test scores. Findings:Research includes 121 participants, which are separated into two different group (i.e. 61 person to intervention 60 person to control group). The first knowledge score average was 6.91 and there is a significant difference in 2 nd and 3 rd year participants' scores in comparison to others.